Seeing America Through New Eyes

EUROLINK FSS VLOG TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00.13] – Craig Penland

It took a group of soccer fans from all over the world to remind me how incredible America really is. Never thought I’d say that, but after spending last weekend in Boston, I believe it. Hey everybody, Craig here from Eurolink. This Fourth of July marks America’s 250th birthday. I’ve celebrated a lot of Fourth of Julys in my lifetime, but I honestly think that this one feels different.

[00:00:21.00] – Craig Penland

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, although according to my knees, every birthday feels a little different these days.

I absolutely love watching the World Cup. Sure, it’s exciting to watch the United States men’s team win its group and advance to the round of 32, but honestly, that’s not even my favorite part of the story. My favorite story has been watching fans from all over the world discover America. They’re posting videos on social media about Buc-ee’s, Costco, sweet tea, free refills, air conditioning, pickup trucks, and Texas barbecue, baby!

[00:00:55.21] – Craig Penland

Apparently, we’ve been taking some pretty amazing things in this country for granted. Sometimes we become so familiar with freedom and the blessings we enjoy that it takes a visitor to remind us what a gift they truly are.

Kim and I spent a long weekend in Boston with our family. It was our first visit to Fenway, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. But what surprised me even more was walking the streets where our nation’s story began.

[00:01:18.10] – Craig Penland

I found myself standing where Paul Revere once rode through darkness. And for the first time in my life, I stopped thinking about the horse, the darkness, the ride, and started thinking about the man. What kind of courage does it take to climb up onto that horse knowing you may never come home? Then you read about Samuel Adams. No, no, no, not the beer.

[00:01:40.14] – Craig Penland

Although, after walking around Boston all day in 90-degree heat, The beer wasn’t that bad either. In fact, we actually spent the afternoon last Friday at the Samuel Adams Brewery with our new friends from Norway watching the World Cup soccer game with them versus France. Americans and Norwegians watching the world’s game while celebrating America’s birthday. Hmm, interesting.

[00:02:08.19] – Craig Penland

History has a funny way of making our founders seem larger than life, but they really weren’t. They were shop owners, printers, farmers, fathers, just ordinary men who decided freedom really was worth fighting for.

My grandfather used to tell me, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” I didn’t fully appreciate those words when I was younger, but I sure do now. Judge Learned Hand once wrote, “Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no Constitution, no law, no court can ever save it.” Freedom doesn’t begin in Washington. It begins right here.

[00:02:39.23] – Craig Penland

So this Fourth of July, thank God for this country. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our military. Pray for our first responders. Teach your children why America is worth celebrating.

[00:02:51.09] – Craig Penland

And maybe, just maybe, see America through the eyes of all these World Cup fans. They reminded me of something many of us needed to hear. We really do live in an incredible country. Happy 250th birthday, America. From all of us here at Eurolink, God bless America, peace be with you. Penland out.

As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns or would like to request a quote for any hard-to-find metric fasteners give us a call at (864) 801-0505.